Issue 15
Hot Industries in a Cool Economy?
Michael Brandwein, internationally recognized expert and author on teaching and training, believes education is the key component to self-development and job success. As the consultant who recently conducted a Westwood faculty development program, he says that even with the worsening unemployment figures, there are industries experiencing growth and hiring people with the right job skills.
And the big-growth industries are? According to Brandwein, the Bureau of Labor Statistic is the "crystal ball gazer" that points to 2008-2018 growth areas such as technology, business management and healthcare, among others. For a useful resource that provides a comprehensive look at growth industries and job trends, go to: bls.gov/oco/oco2003.htm
Watch a recent interview with Brandwein where he discusses the trends and the steps people can take when seeking to develop, update or enhance their job skills. In the interview, he cites Westwood as a prime example of a career-focused school that is proactively responding to the growing industries by offering relevant programs to meet their demands.
To learn more about job possibilities in your field of study, contact Career Services.
Ear to the Ground
Stay the Course — Your Degree Is Worth the Effort
As unemployment figures continue to inch upward, completing your degree is more important than ever. Following are five compelling reasons to stay in school:
- Receive support from a Success TeamSM that truly cares about your dreams and goals and is ready to help you every step of the way.
- Finish your studies before you need to repay your student loans. You don't want to have to start paying for something you haven't yet completed!
- Building relationships with staff, faculty and peers is an important part of your Westwood experience. The networking you do today could pay off for you tomorrow.
- Tap into faculty who can give you the benefit of their experiences in your field of study.
- Keep your graduation dream alive. Fewer than 10 percent of all students who take time off from school return to complete their degrees.
Check out these Westwood success stories. You'll see why these Westwood graduates are happy they stayed in school. You can do it, too!
Winning Design Depicts Spirit of the Season
Joy and Celebration" is the theme that motivated Westwood's 2010 holiday card contest design winner Julio Nambo. A visual communications major at the Chicago O'Hare Campus, Nambo says that the inspiration behind his design was "the happiness and celebration that this holiday season brings, from the various holiday parties to the winter snow."
School of Design students from the 17 campuses were asked to design a card in one of the following themes: Celebration and Joy, Diversity and Peace, Gratitude and Friendship. A panel of judges at Central Administration chose Nambo's design because of the originality, positive energy and relevance to those who will receive the card.
Nambo, a husband and father of five, plans on opening a small design company whose target clients will be churches or faith-based organizations.
Graduate Profile
Roxana Aguilar, 2010 Business Administration: Major in Marketing Management Graduate
When it came to making the decision to start classes at Westwood College straight out of high school, Roxana Aguilar wasted no time. She asked, "Why spend the rest of the summer lying on the couch, when you could be in class learning and expanding your horizons?
Aguilar credits many people for keeping her motivated and on task. "I had a lot going on in my personal life during my first term. I was able to stay the course thanks to great support from my instructors, family and friends. They all believed in me, which helped me believe in myself," she explains.
She found employment in her field of study two weeks prior to graduating. At Questex Media Group/Response Magazine, Aguilar works one-on-one with the magazine's publisher, writers, business directors and marketers. "I work on a wide variety of projects and trade shows, which is helping me better understand the industry," she says.
Aguilar's best piece of advice to future or current students is to save everything. "Essays, notes, ideas you scribbled on a notepad. Anything and everything. You never know when those notes from your Computer Application class can come in handy!
Job Tip
When looking for a job, be sure to thoroughly research the industry you're interested in as well as the company and position you hope to interview for. Here's some basic tips for researching companies to get you started. Be certain to check with Career Services for more information and help in preparing for your job interview.
Campus Briefs
Criminal Justice Students Visit Youth Detention Center
In the spirit of hands-on training and real-life experiences, Atlanta Midtown criminal justice (day and evening) students came together to visit the Marietta Regional Youth Detention Center in Marietta, Georgia. The 26 students who participated were able to see their classroom theory put into practice at the facility.
Westwood student Zacchary Metcalf said that the outing was a good one "because it displayed a clear potential for different careers in working with youth."
NaNoWriMo — Silly Sounding Name for a Serious Endeavor
NaNoWriMo, short for National Novel Writing Month, is described on its website as "Thirty days and nights of literary abandon!" The goal of the global competition is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel between November 1 and midnight, November 30.
And two Arlington Ballston game art students, Andrea Hunter-Bradley and Julian Murdock, did just that! They were spurred on by Pete Ramirez III, Westwood instructor and advisor to the creative writing club, who joined the two by also writing a first-draft novel.
Because so few actually complete the competition, Hunter-Bradley and Murdock were recognized on campus and presented with personally engraved pens to commemorate their achievement.
Online Admissions Team Sends Goodies to Afghanistan Troops
Dubbed "Operation Innovation," Westwood College Online admissions team D200 joined forces and gathered items that are hard to come by for those serving in Afghanistan. Working from a wish list provided by Master Sergeant Wayne Metcalf (second from left), team members bought candy, personal care items, magazines and even some Westwood-branded items such as water bottles, notebooks and mugs. Metcalf's response to receiving the gifts was, "WOW! Thank you, guys, so much for the packages. My guys will just love it being so close to Christmas.
Q. What's the value of accreditation?
A. One of the most practical benefits is that national accreditation enables Westwood students to access federal loans and grants*. Another benefit is that accreditation affirms the value of students' degrees when they go into the job world to start careers. Click for more information on accreditation.
*Available for those who qualify.
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